Furnace wall port closure and operating means therefor



Dec. 2, 1952. J. c. SINGLETON, JR 2,619,922

FURNACE WALL PORT CLOSURE AND OPERATING MEANS THEREFOR INVENTOR Wow ATTCRNEY 1952 J. c. SINGLETON, JR 2 2 FURNACE WALL. PORT CLOSURE AND OPERATING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Aug. 19, 1947 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 2, 1952 FURNACE WALL PORT CLOSURE AND OPERATING MEANS THEREFOR John C. Singleton, Jr., Watchung, N. .L, assignor to The Babcock & Wilcox Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 19, 1947, Serial No. 769,431

8 Claims.

The invention herein disclosed relates to the construction and operation of closure units especially adapted for association with chamber wall openings such as are normally provided in the walls of furnaces and other similar closed chambered structures. More specifically, my invention is directed to a type of lance door unit having a door or cover component arranged for angular movement with respect to an associated chamber wall opening through which interior chamber conditions may be observed, or through which a lance or other implement may be inserted for cleaning interior surface areas.

An object of my invention is to provide a closure unit of compact arrangement adapted for association with a single wall opening, whereby in an assembly of such units axially of closely spaced wall openings, each unit is independently operable without interference with an adjacently positioned unit at either side.

An additional object is to provide a closure unit having a door member and a door operating member each movable relative to the other about a separate axis.

Another object is to provide a closure unit in which the door member is automatically held open upon movement into a predetermined open position.

Another object is to provide a closure unit in which the door member is automatically clamped against its seat upon movement into closed position.

A further object is to provide a closure unit in which a door operating member serves to prevent the door from closing when in an open position, and to maintain the door seated when in the closed position.

My invention also contemplates providing a closure means having an associated frame structure mountable on spaced wall tubes and adapted to protect such tubes from injury when a lance or other implement is inserted therebetween.

The various features of novelty which characterize my invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Of the drawings:

Fig. l is a fragmentary side elevation, in section, illustrating. my invention as embodied in the setting of a water tu e boiler ni Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlargement of Fig. 1 showing details of a wall port closure unit included therein, with the door member closed;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the closure unitshown in Fig. 2, but with the door member in an, open position;

Fig. 4 is a front view of the closure unit shown in Fi 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of Fig. 1, partly in section along line 55, showing the closure unit in relation to Wall tubes; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view, similar to Fig. 2, showing a modification.

The fragmentary views Figs. 1 and 5, in particular, exemplify the application of my invention to a known form of boiler unit having horizontally disposed lengths of boiler tubes l0 arranged ina bank over a furnace chamber l2 having a front upright defining wall [3, the tubes I0 being arranged in vertically spaced rows as shown and being also arranged in horizontally spaced rows across the width of the boiler as is customary. The tubes II] are connected at their upper ends to a transverse boiler drum l4 to which the upper ends of horizontally spaced upright front furnace wall tubes 15 are also connected, other horizontally spaced wall tubes, as indicated by centerlines I6, being positioned in a side wall of the boiler. In the arrangement shown, closure units 11 are arranged in a row opposite the spaces l3 between successive wall tubes l5 to permit the insertion of a steam lance, for example, for cleaning the external walls of boiler tubes In at opposite sides of each intervening vertical lane. Similar closure units may be installed between side wall tubes 6, at locations 19 distributed as indicated in Fig. 1 for example, for cleanin the walls of tubes In adjoining each horizontal lane.

Each closure or lance port unit H, as shown, comprises a tubular door frame structure which includes an outer frame section or member 2| positioned exteriorly of wall l3 and providing a support for a door or cover 23, together with an inner frame section or sleeve member anchored within the wall and having laterally extending mounting flanges or lugs 25 for attachment of the unit to wall tubes 15. The mounting lugs 25 preferably terminate at approximately the centerlines of adjacent wall tubes l5 where adjoining lugs are clamped to the tubes by nuts 26 threaded on studs 21 suitably secured to the tubes.

Frame members 21 and 24 are separably connected by cap bolts 28 and together provide a continuous lance port or passage 29 therethrough in registry with the intertube space l8. In an arrangement as shown, with wall tubes [5 of 3% -in. O. D. and arranged on 6-in. centers, for example, the frame structure may be correspondingly proportioned so as to provide a frame passage 29 having a minimum transverse dimension of 2-in. diameter, for example, at its outer circular end 3| in frame member 2| and flaring to a somewhat larger diameter at the joint 32 between the members, the passage 29 gradually changing to an oblong cross-section elongated parallel to wall tubes l5 to a dimension of 7 in., for example, at the inner end 34 of sleeve member 24. When studs 35 are provided on wall tubes 5 such studs are omitted from the wall tube area opposite the inner end 34 of passage 29. The companionate bolting flanges 36 and 31 on the outer and inner frame member, respectively, are preferably separated sufficiently to receive the sheet metal wall casing 38.

The outer door frame member 2| preferably terminates in a cylindrical rim portion 39 providing a planar annular door seat 4| peripherally of the outer circular end 3| of lance port 23. In the arrangement shown, where unit I1 is installed in a vertical portion of wall IS, the door seat 4| is formed in an upright plane, suitably parallel to the plane of the wall, and thus substantially normal to the central longitudinal axis AA common to both the outer and inner door frame members 2| and 24. The door or cover 23 includes a recessed body portion 42 of generally circular formation and presenting a planar annular seatin surface 43 adapted to seat against the companionate door frame surface 4 Spaced hinge brackets 45 integral with frame flange 33 and extending longitudinally therefrom are formed with aligned circular holes 46 through which a hinge pin or bolt 41 extends to provide a hinge support for door 23, the bolt 41 being headed at one end and being fitted with a nut 48 at its opposite end to prevent axial displacement.

Door 23 is formed with an integral hinge lug or arm portion 49 extending radially from the circular body portion 42, the arm portion 49 being assembled between the hinge brackets 45 and having a hole 5| therethrough receivin hinge pin 41 so as to permit angular door movement about a horizontal pivotal axis parallel to and outwardly adjacent the plane of the annular frame surface 4|. shape, being elongated in opposite directions beyond the circular cross-section of pin 41 normal to the plane of the annular door surface 43, thereby providing a, loose connection between the door 23 and pin 41 to enable the companionate seating surfaces 4| and 43 to be brought into contact throughout their common areas for complete sealing. The door arm 49 terminates in a curved lever-like extension 52 disposed at the opposite side of hinge pin 41 relative to the side at which the door body 42 is located, such an extension being arranged for engagement by a yoke 53 in a manner and for a purpose to be later described. Door 23 is also formed with a vertically disposed diametrically positioned rib 54 also for engagement by yoke 53 as about to be described.

The yoke or bail 53, which functions both as a door operator and door locking means, includes parallel arms 55 which are hinged to the sides of door frame member 2| by means of hinge pins 51, each of which is formed with a head 58 at one end received inwardly of the frame member in a recess 59, and fitted with a cotter pin 6| at its outer end to prevent axial displacement, a

Hole 5| is slightly oblong in '4 washer 62 being assembled between the frame and each arm, and a similar washer 63 between each arm and a cotter pin 6|. Yoke 53 is thus arranged for angular movement about a horizontal pivotal axis BB intersecting the longitudinal axis of the assembly as represented by line AA. The yoke includes a cross-bar element 64 which is arranged generally parallel to the pivotal axis B-B provided by hinge pins 51, and generally perpendicular to the yoke arms 53 disposed at opposite sides. Each side arm 58 is continued beyond the pivotal axis B-B to provide a crank-like extension arm portion 65 disposed in substantially right angled relation to the major yoke-arm portion 51 at the opposite side of the axis, the extension arm portion 65 terminating in a laterally enlarged end portion 58.

The yoke bar portion 64 is adapted to engage the lateral edge 39 of the door rib 54 when the door 23 is closed, thereby producing a wedging action by which the door is forced into and maintained in seated position, with the door surface 43 in complete circumferential contact with frame surface 4|, the rib edge 69 including an upper curved portion 1| formed as an are about the pivotal axis BB and tangent to a lower substantially straight portion 12 which diverges downwardly at an angle C of about 5 relative to the common vertical plane of the contacting annular surfaces 4| and 43.

The cross-section of yoke bar 34, havin a form somewhat of the nature of a trapezium, may suitably be defined in relation to the plane containing the axes A-A and BB and arranged substantially at right angles to the annular frame surface 4|. Thus, as seen in Fig. 2, with door 23 in its closed and seated position and with bar 64 engaging rib 54, the desired form of cross-section is mainly determined by the upper and lower inner bar surfaces 13 and 14, respectively. Such bar surfaces are arranged at opposite sides of the above mentioned reference plane and define an obtuse angle of about therebetween, both surfaces 13 and 14 bein inclined to the reference plane away from the plane of the annular frame surface 4| and being joined by a curved inner edge surface 15 of relatively small radius at approximately the point of tangency between rib surfaces 1| and 12, on longitudinal axis AA substantially as shown. In the illlstrated embodiment, the upper bar surface 13 is inclined to the plane of frame surface 4| at an angle D of about 55, and the lower bar surface 14 at an angle C of about 5, the lower bar surface 14 being ground or otherwise suitably shaped to fit the lower rib surface 12 at assembly. The outer bar surface 15 is arranged at substantially right angle to the radial extent of yoke arms 55 to define with the upper bar surface 13 an acute included angle of about 55, corresponding to angle D, the surfaces 13 and 13 being joined by a curved outer edge surface 13 also of relatively small radius as in the case of inner edge surface 15.

When it is desired to move door 23 from its closed position as seen in Fig. 2, to its open position as seen in Fig. 3, the yoke 53 is rotated out of engagement with rib 54, suitably by an upward blow or thrust against the under surface 19 of bar 54, thereby raising the bar to the broken line position 54-X indicated in Fig. 2 where the rounded outer edge surface 18engages the planar end surface SI of the curved lever-like extension 52 on door 23. Continued rotation of yoke 53 in the same direction causes the bar 64, acting on extension 52, to rotate door 23 about its hinge bolt 4'! out of contact with the annular frame surface 4| into the open position indicated in Fig. 3 where the planar lower inner surface 14 of yoke bar 64 engages the planar end surface 8| of extension 52 to provide automatic and positive latching of the door in open position. In this position the yoke bar 84 is held stationary rearwardly of the pivotal axis BB in close proximity to the casing 38, and, although not detailed, with the yoke arms 56 in close proximity to opposite edge portions of the door frame flange 36. A small clearance space 82 is provided between yoke bar 64 and casing 38, and a similar clearance space, not indicated, between each yoke arm 56 and flange 36, so as to permit the extent of yoke rotation necessary to assure positive latching or locking engagement of the bar with door arm 52. The flange 3B or casing 38 thus may serve as a stop, if necessary, to prevent overtravel of yoke bar 64 beyond its position of locking engagement with the door arm surface 8| which would permit the door to drop back to its closed position independently of yoke operation. Other stop means, not shown, such as a stop lug on frame 2!, or other stationary part of the assembly, could be provided to similarly prevent overtravel. The curvature of arm 52 enables the door to be opened to the extent desired, through an angle E of at least 120, without interference with door frame 2 I, as seen in Fig. 3, and further, in the open position, provides an upwardly facing end surface 8| for cooperation with the downwardly facing stop surface 14 of yoke bar 84.

During the first stage of door opening movement, the rounded door arm tip 84, which forms the inner edge of surface 8 I, moves to greater distances from the pivotal axis of cross bar movement until tangent to the plane F which passes through and contains the pivotal axis of door 23 and the pivotal axis BB of yoke 53, as indicated in Fig. 2, for the cross bar position 64-Y. It will be noted that as a result of relative movement between the parts, the door arm tip 84 has moved to the outer side of the outer cross bar edge 18 so as to cause the edge "to be engaged by the inner curved door arm surface 85. During succeeding periods of door opening movement, the

door arm tip 84 moves back around the cross bar edge 18 into contact with the planar upper cross bar surface 13, and finally around the inner cross bar edge until the door arm end surface 8| engages the lower cross bar surface 14 for holding the door in a predetermined open position, as seen in Fig. 3.

In order to return the door to its closed position, a light blow is struck against the forward face 83 of either yoke extension 68 so as to rotate the yoke bar 34 toward a position forwardly of the pivotal axis BB and thus automatically freeing the end surface 81 of door arm 52 from engagement with the inner cross bar surface 14 and permitting the door to drop by. its own weight into its closed position. The yoke 53,,due to its unbalanced weight distribution at opposite sides of axis BB, similarly drops to its closed position and automatically becomes wedged against the outer edge portion 12 of door rib 54 to clamp the door firmly against its seat 4! on frame 2!, the yoke bar 64 coming to rest at a position adjacent the longitudinal axis A--A so as to exert a clamping force centrally of the main body portion 42 of door 23 to prevent door opening movement except as a sequence to yoke movement in the manner above described.

The main parts of the closure unit, such as the frame members 2| and 24, door 23, and yoke 53, may suitably be made from castings, and require only a limited number of simple finishing operations, such as drilling and grinding, for their fabrication. A further advantage of this form of closure unit is that dimensional relationships are not unduly critical, to the extent at least that certain variations are permissible in the contours of cooperating parts without affecting operability of the unit. For example, in the modification shown in Fig. 6, the upper working surface 13a of cross bar 8411 is disposed at a greater angle D to the door seat surface 4| than the corresponding upper working surface 13 of the previously described embodiment. As a result of this angular variation, in particular, when cross bar 64a is moved to position X, the surface 13a engages the rounded door arm tip surface 84, and similar contact is maintained between these same surfaces throughout further opening movement of the door. In order to maintain tip 84 in continuous engagement with surface 1311, it might be found desirable to slightly increase the radial width of cross bar Maand thereby increase the available working width of surface 13a. As the door approaches its final position of opening movement, the door arm tip 84 moves inwardly around the inner cross bar edge 15a as in the former embodiment so that the door arm surface BI is brought into engagement with the lower latching cross bar surface 14a.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes I have illustrated and described herein the best form of my invention now known to me, those skilled in the art will understand that changes may be made in the form of the apparatus disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention covered by my claims, and that certain features of my invention may sometimes be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features.

I claim:

1. Wall port closure means comprising a frame providing a door seat peripherally of the frame opening, a door arranged for angular movement about an axis parallel to said seat, in a position beyond the periphery of said opening, a pivot support for said door determining said axis, and door operating means arranged to rotate said door from its closed to an open position and supported for angular movement about an axis parallel to said first named axis and extending transversely of and through said opening, said door operating means in one position having a portion in engagement with a door portion at one side of the plane containing said axes for clamping said door against said seat and in another position having a different portion in engagement with a door portion at the opposite side of said plane for holding said door in an open position, said first door portion being disposed in the path 'of movement of said door operating means when said door is in an open position whereby on movement of said operating means the door is closed,

and said other door portion being disposed in the path of movement of said door operating means when said door is in a closed position whereby opening, a door "at the outer end of said opening arranged for angular movement about a horizontal pivotal axis parallel to said seat and displaced from the center of gravity of said door at an elevation adjacent the uppermost limits of said opening, and door operating means formed as a yoke arranged for angular movement about an axis parallel to the axis of movement of said door at an elevation intermediate the vertical extent of said opening, said yoke having a horizontally disposed cross bar portion arranged to engage said door for moving said door from a closed to an open position against the force of gravity tending to close said door and for maintaining said door stationary in each of said positions, said door having a vertically disposed outer rib portion which in the closed position of said door presents an outer surface sloping downwardly and outwardly into the path of said cross bar portion for arresting angular movement thereof in a downward direction, thereby providing a wedging action forcing said docr against said seat.

3., Wall port closure means comprising a frame formed with a passage therethrough, a door at the outer end of said passage formed with a main body portion having an arm extending therefrom, a pivot support for said door disposed intermediate said body portion and the outer end of said arm and arranged for door movement about an axis extending transversely of said passage at a position adjacent the marginal limits thereof, door operating means arranged for rotating said door from a closed to an open position and for locking said door in said open position, a pivot support for said door operating means arranged for movement of said means about an axis parallel to said axis of door movement, said door operating means being formed as a yoke having a cross bar portion of polygonal cross section having a pair of surfaces facing said last named pivot support and defining an obtuse angle therebetween, one of said surfaces engaging said arm at one side of the plane containing said pivotal axes for moving said door from its closed position and the other of said surfaces engaging said arm at the opposite side of said plane for locking said door in said open position.

4. Wall port closure means comprising a frame formed with a passage extending horizontally therethrough, a door at the outer end of said passage formed with a main body portion having an arm extending therefrom, a pivot support for said door disposed intermediate said body portion and the outer end of said arm and arranged for door movement about a horizontal axis positioned above said passage in transverse relation thereto, door operating means arranged for rotating said door from a closed to an open position and for locking said door in said open position, a pivot support for said door operating means arranged for movement of said means about an axis parallel to said axis of door movement, said door operating means being formed as a member having a cross bar portion engaging said arm at one side of the plane containing said pivotal axes, for moving said door from its closed position, and engaging said arm at the opposite side of said common plane at a location beyond the vertical plane containing the pivotal axis of said door operating means, for locking said door in said open position.

5. In combination with a door arranged for angular movement about a horizontal pivotal axis, a pivot support for said door determining said axis, means forming an upright seat for said door substantially parallel to said axis, door operating means arranged to rotated said door from a closed position against said seat to an open position above said seat and to maintain said door stationary in said open position, means for supporting said door operating means for angular movement about an axis parallel to and below said first named axis at a position inwardly spaced from said seat, means for limiting angular movement of said door to positions wherein the center of weight of said door is continuously at the outer side of a vertical plane containing said last named pivotal axis, said door operating means engaging said door at the inner side of said vertical plane for releasably locking said door in said open position.

6. In combination with a door arranged for angular movement about a horizontal pivotal axis, door operating means arranged for angular movement in a given direction for rotating said door from a closed to anopen position, said door having its body portion at one side of said axis and having an arm-like projection at the opposite side thereof, said body portion providing a substantially planar door seating surface and said projection extending outwardly from the plane of said surface, a pivot support for said door operating means arranged for movement of said means about an axis parallel to said pivotal axis, said door operating means having a cross bar portion movable into engagement with the outer end of said projection for locking said door in said open position, and means limiting movement of said door operating means in said given direction to prevent overtravel of said cross bar portion beyond its position of locking engagement with said projection.

7. In combination with a door arranged for angular movement about a horizontal pivotal axis, said door having a body portion at one side of said axis and having an arm-like projection terminating at the opposite side of said axis, door operating means arranged for angular movement about a pivotal axis parallel to the pivotal axis of said door, said door operating means having a cross bar portion formed with a pair of adjoining surfaces paralleling the pivotal axis of said means and disposed in obtuse angular relation to each other, said pair of surfaces being arranged so that rotation of said door operating means in one direction causes one surface of said pair to engage said projection for rotating said door to an open position whereupon the other surface of said pair is caused to engage said projection for locking said door in said open position, and means limiting movement of said door operating means in said one direction to prevent overtravel of said cross bar portion beyond its position of locking engagement with said projection.

8. A wall port closure unit comprising a frame providing a door seat marginally of the frame opening, a door for said opening arranged for angular movement about a pivotal axis extending horizontally and substantially parallel to said seat, said door having a body portion at the lower side of said axis and having an arm extending forwardly of said axis at the upper side thereof, and door operating means for moving said door from its closed position adjacent said seat to an open position spaced from said seat and for locking said door in said open position, said door operating means comprising a member supported for angular movement about an axis parallel to said first named axis and having a cross bar element movable to and from positions at Opposite sides of the plane containing said axes, said arm lying in the path of movement of said cross bar element for efiecting movement of said door to said open position at the rearward side of said plane wherein said element acts as a stop for maintaining said door stationary, said door body portion in the closed position of said door forwardly of said plane presenting an outer surface portion positioned for clamping engagement by said cross-bar element.

JOHN C. SINGLETON, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Number 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Knoll Mar. 24, 1908 Kuhr Mar. 28, 1916 Sellick Feb. 13, 1917 Anderson May 18, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Jan. 29, 1885 Great Britain Nov. 25, 1892 Great Britain Apr. 2, 1903 Germany Nov. 13, 1925 France Sept. 15, 1930 

